In preparing the sermon this week I found myself asking, “Is it right to speak of the reward of discipleship?” It feels wrong to think of following and learning the way of Jesus because we want a prize at the end. Shouldn’t the Christian desire to follow Jesus merely because it is the right thing to do? Because the Bible tells us so? Does discipleship lose its moral power if we pursue the way of Christ looking to a reward? Like a child who will only clean his room if he is promised a brownie for dessert. However, the more I prepared the more I saw that the word of God continually motivates discipleship by a promised reward. Jesus promises that those who are persecuted for following him should, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,” (Matthew 5:12 ESV) Jesus encourages his followers to give self-sacrificially saying, “…your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4 ESV) And Jesus teaches that those who follow his life of love will be rewarded, “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great.” (Luke 6:35 ESV) Jesus does not avoid speaking of rewards, rather he is continually motivating his disciples to follow his way so that they might be richly rewarded. As we come to the end of our summer series on discipleship, we turn our focus to this reward that Jesus promises. What exactly is this reward and when do we receive it? What we will see is that the Word of God promises to reward those who follow Christ with entrance into the Kingdom of God, with all its blessings. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Hebrews 11-12:24, Psalm 16:11, Matthew 25:31-40, Mark 10:29-31, Colossians 3:23-24, and Westminster Confession of Faith 33.2.

With humble and steadfast faith, praise God that we have abiding anchors in Christ, His word, prayer, and His love. His love spills over into our lives and into our love for one another, our community, and the world around us. As we continue to face the strains of the Delta Variant of Covid-19, the sadness of the collapse of Afghanistan, the impact of wildfires out west, and the consequences of another earthquake in Haiti, we know to love and to pray. We do so amidst the joys and strains of living together to the glory of God. This Sunday, we’ll continue our summer series on Discipleship as we turn to John 15:7-11 and explore “Abiding Anchors for Discipleship (and our Souls).” These verses are filled with hope and foundation for life! As we focus on abiding in Christ Who gives us life and breath and all things, we’ll look forward to singing “We Come, O Christ, To You,” “Before the Throne of God Above,” and “Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting.” In preparation for worship, please pray through John 15 and Colossians 1:15-20. Please take four minutes to watch a call to prayer from members of our national EPC leadership by clicking here. Yes, you may need to skip one ad. Beyond worship on Sunday morning, please join the Rivermont family for an hour of prayer on Sunday afternoon at 4:00 pm in the Rivermont Chapel. As we do each week, we’ll continue to pray for our covenant family, our community, and our world. May we share in the appropriate weight of laboring in prayer for friends, our nation, and the world beyond.

What brings you joy? What activities cause you to feel deeply fulfilled and intensely engaged? In John 4, we find Jesus “wearied” from a long journey that was filled with hard work. He is “sitting” beside a well in the heat of the day. He asks a Samaritan woman to give him a drink. (4:7) This scene seems to describe a man who is depleted and in need of refreshment (both physically and, we can imagine, emotionally). It is not surprising, then, to learn that his disciples “had gone away into the city to buy food.” (4:8) What is surprising is the condition in which the disciples find Jesus upon their return. “The disciples were urging him… “Rabbi eat.” (4:31) Jesus replied, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” (4:32) The disciples are confused. It doesn’t add up. How could Jesus be reinvigorated when, circumstantially, nothing had changed? The day was still hot. Jesus had gotten no sleep nor eaten any food. And yet, they found him refreshed. The disciples wonder “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” (4:33) Jesus said to them “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.” (4:34) While the disciples were in the city, Jesus ministered to the Samaritan woman whom he’d asked for a drink. As Jesus did the will of God and accomplished the work of God, he found his own body and soul refreshed. It seems, for Jesus, that spiritual ministry, sacrificial service, and self-denying love resulted in joy, deep fulfillment, and intense engagement. Jesus concluded this conversation with an invitation to his disciples “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest.” (4:35) Jesus extends that same invitation to you and to me. In fact, this is the very work for which God made us and saved us. When we minister to the spiritual needs of others, we will find our souls and bodies nourished on the “food” about which Jesus spoke in John 4.

It was supposed to be a warmup fight for Mike Tyson as he prepared to defend his title against Evander Holyfield later that year. However, no one saw what was coming the evening of February 11, 1990, when Mike Tyson stepped into the ring with James “Buster” Douglas. Prior to this fight, Tyson was the undefeated, undisputed heavyweight champion. Douglas on the other hand had many hardships leading up to the fight. He had lost his last title fight, his mother died a few weeks prior, his wife became deathly ill from a kidney ailment, and he contracted the flu the day before the fight. It is no wonder that “Iron” Mike was a 42:1 favorite over Douglas. Before the fight began the boxing analysts did not spend time talking about the technical aspects of the fight, but rather boldly claimed that they would only be working for 90 seconds that evening. They spent more time talking about Tyson and Douglas’ pet dog’s names, Duran and Shakespeare, than the fight. For Tyson’s part, he went out partying the night before the fight. When he was encouraged to get some rest, he said that Douglas was “an amateur," and I could beat him "if I didn't sleep for five weeks.” Everyone and everything was telling Tyson that he could not lose. But the fight did not end in 90 seconds. It did not end in round one, or two, or three. Douglas stood toe to toe with Tyson for ten rounds. Then the unexpected happened. Douglas caught Tyson off guard with an uppercut to the jaw. As Tyson reeled from the blow Douglas hit him in the head four more times and Tyson went down. It was the first time in his career that Tyson was knocked down. He struggled to get up but could not beat the count. The fight was over, and Douglas was the victor. It is a classic example of underestimating your opponent. Tyson could and should have beaten Douglas but he did not take his opponent seriously. As we continue our study of discipleship, we come this Sunday to discuss the fight of discipleship. Many Christians do not realize that every true disciple of Jesus is called to fight (1 Tim 1:18). This is not a fight against flesh and blood, but rather a spiritual fight against, Satan, the flesh, and the world. And what we will see in our text for this week is that we must not underestimate our opponent. Through Christ, we have been given the power to stand and overcome, but only if we are willing to fight.

What does it cost to follow Christ? It cost very little to be a merely outward Christian. There are many who would proclaim to follow Jesus. They might show up to church a few times a year, give a bit to the offering, have Christian décor in their homes, and listen to the family-friendly radio station. However, true sacrifice never seems to come. Their brand of Christianity is light. There is no weight or substance. When more pressing obligations arise, Christ gets pushed aside. Low-cost Christianity isn’t willing to give up significant time, resources, or relationships. It is not willing to forsake secret sins or even prioritize worship over other obligations. Yet to be a true follower of Jesus Christ means more than an outward veneer of Christian tokens. To follow Jesus is to forsake all other priorities and pursue him and his ways above all else. In our passage for this Sunday, Jesus teaches those who would follow him what is the true cost of discipleship. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Luke 14:25-35, Matthew 10:37, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:2, Philippians 3:7-8, and this article on The Cost of Discipleship.

This week, I will continue our summer sermon series on discipleship by looking at the “Endurance of Discipleship.” This is yet another challenging area of discipleship. Why? Because following Christ is a lifelong commitment and process. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Discipleship stretches and moves us and there are times when it steps on our toes. Often times being a Christian or following Christ has been reduced to saying a prayer and half-heartedly following Christ and living out the Christian life. As we look at and study John 6:60-71, we'll see that there is much more involved than perhaps we realize and endurance is a big part of what Jesus calls to. In our passage, Jesus says some things that are hard to accept and people leave him, but we will see that enduring to the end comes with great reward. To come prepared for worship, please take time to reflect upon John 6:60-71, Proverbs 3:5-6, 2 Timothy 4:3, Proverbs 14:12, and Romans 9:10-13. Then consider what it means to follow Christ until the end and praise Him for the grace he has shown you. As you pray for worship, look forward to singing the Hymn of Praise “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” the Acclamation of Praise “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” and the Hymn of Response “Our God, Our Help in Ages Past.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!

This week, I will continue our summer sermon series on discipleship by looking at the "welcome of discipleship." The passage I’ve chosen (Matthew 25:31-40) is a challenging one. It’s challenging not because it’s difficult for us to understand. Rather, it’s challenging because it reminds us that discipleship will cost us. The currency of discipleship is our time, our talent, our treasure, yes even our very lives, and what we find is that it’s quite “expensive.” Discipleship stretches and moves us. It takes us out of our comfort zones and that's certainly true when it comes to the welcome of discipleship. As we examine Matthew 25:31-40, we'll see that one of the evidences given for faithful discipleship is "welcoming the stranger." But what exactly does that mean and who is the stranger and why should we welcome them? How we answer that question will move us closer or further away from being a welcoming church. To come prepared for worship, please take time to reflect upon Matthew 25:31-40 and Romans 15:7. Ponder the blessing of living lives that reflect the love and grace of Jesus Christ for the good of those around you. As you pray for worship, look forward to singing the Hymn of Praise “Come, Thou Almighty King,” the Acclamation of Praise “The Church's One Foundation,” and the Hymn of Response “Blest Be the Tie That Binds.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!

As a college student, a few of my classmates memorized a number of verses to help us mature in Christ. We shared a love for our Savior and wanted to follow Him. One of those verses is anchored in our sermon text for this Sunday in worship. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV). As a group of brothers and sisters, we wanted our new lives in Christ to be pure and loving. We understood that our lives needed to reflect the new creation that we were enjoying. While that verse has been tucked away in my heart for many years, I finally realized that the context of that verse in 2 Corinthians 5 went far beyond my personal growth as an individual. Indeed, in context, God is calling all of us to enjoy our new life in Christ and be engaged in the ministry of “Gospel Reconciliation.” As ambassadors for Christ, this joyful assignment begins with coming to know Jesus Christ and then living lives that reflect the glories of His grace in our homes and community. This Sunday as we turn to 2 Corinthians 5:11-21, we’ll come to our second sermon in the summer series of making disciples. To come prepared for worship, please take time to reflect upon 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 and Philippians 2:1-11. Ponder the blessing of living lives that reflect the love and grace of Jesus Christ for the good of those around you. As you pray for worship, look forward to singing the Hymn of Praise “Christ is Made the Sure Foundation,” the Acclamation of Praise “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less,” and the Hymn of Response “Let us Love and Sing and Wonder.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him! SERMON TEXT: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 THE SERMON: “Gospel Reconciliation” (Second Sermon in the series of Making Disciples) The Motivations of Ministry (vv. 11-15) The Context of Ministry (vv. 16-19) The Heart of Ministry (vv. 18-21) Sunday’s Bulletin

On July 4th, while our nation celebrates the political revolution of the Declaration of Independence and the victory of the Revolutionary War, we will begin our study on the Spiritual Revolution of the Great Commission and Discipleship. After Jesus won the victory against sin and suffering by dying and rising for us, He sent the church on a lifelong mission to go and make disciples of all nations. This Spiritual revolution turned the world upside down as disciples went forth in the power of the Spirit to share the good news of Christ's victory and made disciples of Christ's kingdom. In this new sermon series on discipleship, we will explore how we continue with Jesus in the great commission to go and make disciples of all nations. We will see how our powerful and present Savior equips us with all the resources and direction to do this world-changing work. I encourage you to come to worship prepared to glorify the risen Christ by meditating upon Matthew 28:16-20, Daniel 7:13-14, Revelation 5:9-10, and Colossians 1:28-29.

Trash talking has always been a part of a competition. During the 1986 NBA All-Star week Larry Bird, prior to the three-point shooting contest, declared, “I’m just looking around to see who’s gonna finish second.” He went on to win. Prior to Super Bowl III, Jets Quarterback Joe Namath, declared, “We’re going to win Sunday. I guarantee it.” He led his team to victory over the heavily favored Colts. The legend says that in the 1932 World Series Babe Ruth, down two strikes in the count, pointed to the left-field flagpole, and called a homerun. On the next pitch, he knocked it over the fence, exactly where he pointed. However, for every great story of athletes able to back up their boasts, there are thousands of empty taunts. Do you remember Anthony Smith? He is the safety that guaranteed a Steelers victory against New England during their undefeated 2007 regular season. Tom Brady had four touchdowns on the day, Randy Moss caught two of them and Smith was burned on two long throws. The Patriots would go on to win 34-13. Smith has never been seen or heard from since. As a Seattle Seahawks fan, I will never forget the overtime game against the Packers when quarterback Matt Hasselback said, after winning the OT coin toss, “We will take the ball and score.” On the ensuing drive, he threw an interception that was run back for a game-ending touchdown. Oops! In our passage for this Sunday, the Apostle Paul teaches us the proper way to boast. He explains that we are not to boast in the flesh because the flesh cannot fulfill its promise. It offers a failed guarantee and all who put their confidence in the flesh will be ashamed. Nevertheless, those who boast in Christ will never be put to shame. For all the guarantees of Christ will come to pass. Therefore, all Christians are called to boast in nothing else but Christ alone. To come prepared for the sermon take time this week to read and to meditate upon Galatians 6:11-18, Jeremiah 9:23-26, 1 Corinthians 1:25-31, 2 Corinthians 5:11-15, Philippians 3:2-11, and this article on Proper Boasting.